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New Day Dawning
The smell of coffee woke her. Or maybe it was the "chink" of a
ceramic mug hitting the bedside table. Either way, she was awake. And it was
obviously morning. "Thanks, Dennis," she murmured.
"You're welcome," came a deep voice.
She opened her eyes. The pillowcase was the wrong color. And so were the
sheets and the comforter and.... "Angel," she remembered. She turned
over and sat up, pushing her hair out of her eyes.
He was standing by the bed, already dressed in a black sweater and pants. His
hair was wet, little droplets clinging to the ends he'd combed into careful
spikes. "Hey," he smiled, and slipped his hands in his pockets.
"Hi," she said. "Musta fallen asleep." She was too used to
him seeing her in all states of dishabille to be self-conscious, but she had
to admit, it was a little strange waking up to find him bringing her coffee.
She reached out sleepily to pick up the cup. "Thanks," she smiled.
"You're welcome," he smiled back, the corners of his eyes making
those little crinkly lines she'd recently begun to notice. "Sorry,
though, not a ghost."
"Nope. Just a vamp." She took a sip and her eyebrow rose. "Who
makes damn good coffee."
He sat down next to her and the mattress shifted under his weight. "Wish
I could take credit for it. But Fred got to the coffee pot before I did."
"Good old Fred." Cordy yawned, covering her mouth with her hand.
"What time is it?"
"About 7:30."
She set the cup down on the bedside table, which she noticed he'd cleared off
sometime in the night. His leather coat had disappeared, and so had the rubber
ducky. How like him to be tidy. And quiet. "Wow, that *is* early. Did you
get any sleep?"
She could have sworn he was blushing. "Yeah, actually." Across the
room, Connor whimpered. Angel rose and padded into the nursery, his bare feet
silent on the carpet. "What is it, little one?" he cooed, bending
over the crib.
Cordy watched as he lifted his son to his chest. He might be her best friend,
but that didn't stop her from noticing how sexy he was. There was just
something about a guy with a baby that sent her system into overdrive.
"Can I hold him?"
Connor was warm and sleepy, and his solid weight in her arms gave her a jolt
of joy. She nuzzled his peach-fuzzed head. "I could get used to
this," she cooed. "Yes, I could. I could get used to seeing you
first thing in the morning." She dropped butterfly kisses all over his
face, thrilled when he blew a bubble at her.
"God, how can you ever...?" She glanced up to find Angel staring at
her, an odd look on his face. "What?"
He shook his head. "Uh, nothing. How can I ever what?"
She blinked, momentarily undone by what she thought she saw in his eyes. But,
of course, it couldn't be. Because, first, a sleep-fuzzed woman holding a baby
was hardly her idea of sexy, and second, it was Angel. Her best friend.
"Put him down," she finished, finally. "How can you ever put
him down?"
Angel smiled and his eyes traveled over her, still cocooned in the sheets,
arms full of sleeping child. She'd never felt more beautiful. And that scared
the crap out of her.
"It's hard, sometimes," he admitted.
She nodded and kissed Connor's cheek, ignoring her thumping heart. "Did
he eat?"
"Yeah. I fed him about an hour ago. What about you? You want some
breakfast?"
Cordy nodded. "In a while. I've gotta get out of these clothes. I feel
all icky."
Angel sat next to her and rubbed his hand over Connor's head. His fingers
brushed Cordy's collarbone, light as feathers. "Don't look icky," he
said, letting his hand rest there, real and solid against the two of them.
"Total guy," she muttered. "Connor, your daddy is a total
guy."
"What? Just 'cause I don't think you look icky, I'm a guy?"
"Well, aren't you?" In her arms, Connor twitched and his eyes
blinked open.
Angel blew out a breath, obviously stumped. "Well, yeah. What's wrong
with being a guy?"
She patted Connor's bottom, gently soothing him back to sleep. "Nothing,
I'm sure. But let's just say that sleeping in the clothes you wore the day
before? Not very conducive to waking up feeling all fresh and shiny."
"I took off your shoes," Angel huffed. "I put you under the
covers. Without waking you up, I might add. But I draw the line at clothing
removal."
She rolled her eyes. "Probably a good idea. 'Cause then, you know,
awkwardness. Thanks, by the way, for tucking me in. What did you do? Wander
the halls like Heathcliff?"
He laughed and slid his hand away. She felt a little cooler without it, a
little emptier. So she smoothed Connor's onesie, making sure the snaps weren't
bothering him. His chest fluttered, in that light way of breathing babies have
when they sleep. God, if her heart melted any more, she'd be a puddle.
"Yeah. That's me. Heathcliff. Actually," he picked up her coffee and
took a sip, "Connor woke me up about 4:00, so we went to the couch and
read."
"Little night owl," she said affectionately. "Just like his
daddy."
His smile was warm and happy. "Yeah. I'm still not used to that."
"What?"
"Daddy."
"I'd say. D'you think you ever will be?"
"Maybe. In a few years." His smile grew. "By the time he gets
to college."
Cordy laughed. "Well, here, he's asleep again. Take your little Magna and
put him to bed. I've gotta get up and find something to wear."
"You want me to take you home?" He walked back to the nursery and
put the sleeping baby into his crib. She saw him stand for a minute and look,
long and deep.
"Nah," she said. "I've got some clothes downstairs. I'll just
borrow Fred's shower."
He glanced up. "You can use mine. I've got extra towels."
Cordy finished her coffee and stood. "That's sweet, Angel. But, guy,
remember? No lotion, no mascara, no hair dryer." She walked over to the
crib, where they watched the sleeping baby for a few quiet moments.
"Gotta get a Snugli," she whispered, helpless to keep from brushing
Connor's loosely-clenched fist.
"What's a Snugli?" Angel whispered back, taking her hand and pulling
her from the room.
"It's a baby sling. You put the baby in it and strap it on, and voila,
free hands. Coulda used it last night with the groin-guys."
"The huh?" Angel followed her out into the hall, his fingers laced
easily with hers.
"Oh, right. That was before you made that cool, and might I add,
well-timed, leap through the skylight."
"Only way I could get into the place," he said, looking a little
chagrinned. "I hate doing that. But sometimes...."
"Yeah, yeah. The life of a champion is never easy. Anyway, I went to
rescue Fred, but it wasn't practical to take the stroller. So there I am,
holding Connor, and no hands free. Only thing I could do was kick the guy in
the nuts."
Angel flinched. "That's always a good defense."
"Yeah, well if they aren't wearing metal cups. I swear, that guy nearly
broke my foot. I think it's still bruised." They both looked down, and
sure enough, a large blue smudge covered her instep. "Darn it," she
muttered. "See, if I'd had the Snugli, I could have strapped Connor to my
back and really whaled on those guys."
Angel took her arm and stopped her descent down the stairs. "No more
fighting with the baby." He looked stern and intimidating.
"Right. I know it's dangerous, but excuse me, menfolk not always
around...."
"I know, to protect the womenfolk."
"Or the babies. So it was either I stay here and let Fred get shish-kabobbed,
or Connor and I go to the rescue. Believe me, it wasn't my idea of a good
decision, but it was the best one I could make at the time." She
continued down the stairs and walked around the reception desk.
The phone was, mercifully, quiet, but the message light was blinking, which
was a great sign. More business. More money. More clients. God, like they
needed any more.
"Well, we'll have to figure something else out," Angel said.
"And in the meantime, I'm getting a Snugli." She walked to the
coffee pot, picked up another mug, and filled it with the rich, black brew.
"And a diaper bag. Kid totally needs a diaper bag."
Angel shrugged. "You know more about this than I do. If you say he needs
that stuff, then go get it."
"Oh, hey, y'all," Fred said, coming into the office. She held a
plate of toast and a mug of coffee. "You're here early," she said to
Cordy. "Or late." She smiled. "Guess you fell asleep, huh? You
need some clothes?"
Cordy shook her head and reached under her desk for her gym bag. "Nah,
I'm good, but thanks. You sleep okay?"
"Like a baby. Starving, though."
"Me, too. But I totally need a shower first."
"Well, ya don't wanna use his," Fred said, glancing at Angel.
"That's what she said. Something about lotion. And mascara." He
rolled his eyes. "Women."
Fred grinned. "Mysterious creatures, aren't we? Hey, Cordy, wanna join me
for breakfast in the courtyard when you're done?"
Cordy smiled. "No, thanks. I think I'm gonna eat with Angel."
Fred smiled. "Okay. See you later?"
"You know it." Cordy watched as she walked out into the bright LA
morning.
"Okay, gotta go get clean," she said, turning her smile to Angel.
"You wanna put some waffles in the toaster?"
He nodded. "Sure thing."
She headed up the stairs, feeling well-rested and lighthearted. And happy. For
the first time in years she felt plain-and-simple happy.
END
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